ANNUAL REPORT for 2017 PROPOSED BUDGET for 2018 FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH MORRO BAY, CA JANUARY, 2018
2017 Annual Report First Christian Church, Morro Bay, CA Mission Statement We believe God s mission and purpose for First Christian Church, Morro Bay, is to share the good news of Jesus Christ, to witness and serve from our doorsteps to all people throughout our community, to encourage personal spiritual growth, and to celebrate God s presence in worship. Minister s Update As we look to the start of our third year together, we do well to reflect on our several notable accomplishments, some quantifiable, one not. Among the former, perhaps our singular most significant achievement is the completion of the Mission Pathways study and the adoption and implementation of its missional commitments through Earth Care Ministries. We are extremely fortunate to have Ruth Ann Angus as its first Director as she begins to anchor the program in the Morro Bay-Los Osos community. Congregational revitalization is a challenging, largely unsettling process and I give credit to those churches even willing to begin the process, not to mention undertake its implementation. Having done both, high praise to the Morro Bay Disciples of Christ. In October, we also welcomed Primera Iglesia Baptista to our facilities. We are in the getting-toknow-you stage and look forward to shared programming in the coming year. Although aging continues to nip at our heels, everyone consistently wears multiple hats and participation and financial support both remain strong. Worship attendance shows our vulnerability as much as anything, but from Sunday morning study to Wednesday morning crafting, the conversation and fellowship are robust. In my report last year, I suggested we need to give more attention to how we worship. Only last fall, with the Earth Care Ministries outreach launched, did I ask the Elders and Worship Committee to begin addressing that subject, and it continues as a priority item on the church s agenda for the year ahead.
I also suggested last year that we turn our attention to the bylaws, particularly with regard to how we channel the various gifts of the members into the church s organizational structure (its governing and decision-making functions). For good reason, we did not get to that task this year, and so I renew it as a priority agenda item for next year. All this is measurable so many people, this many dollars, all numbers on a graph showing trends over time but there is a side to church life, infinitely more important and only subjectively discernible, having to do with its spirit, that is to say, the nature of its faith and the quality of the relationships that bind the members together creating a faith community. It s something of a miracle that it happens at all and I never cease to marvel at the privilege I have in living with the community of Jesus people gathered as the Disciples of Christ of Morro Bay, and in all humility, I thank you for it. May God continue to bless us in the coming year. Rich Kurrasch Moderator s Report This has been an exciting, challenging, and, let s face it, a stressful year for our congregation. We began the year by finishing the Mission Pathways program and establishing an Earth Care Ministry. As a part of that program we then hired a Director for the Ministry. On top of that we opted to begin renting our facility to a different Protestant faith. After many years of having our cherished sanctuary all to ourselves, we now had to make allowances for another group. Thankfully, Primera Iglesias is a responsible group that is very easy to work with. Through all of this stress and change our congregation has responded outstandingly. We have done this because we are first and foremost a caring, spiritual group that naturally responds to the needs of others. But, to be frank, we also did these things because we realize we are fighting for our lives. We realized we had to do something to try and revitalize our church. Not anything, but something that was thought out, rational, and had a chance of succeeding. It is too early to tell if all of our efforts will bear the fruit we anticipate. Suffice it to say, that with the continued understanding and support of all of you, and the help of God, we have a good chance of celebrating worship in our beloved First Christian Church for many years to come. Rich Elliott
Deacon Report The deacon and deaconesses served communion and received the offering each Sunday during the year. Thank you to everyone who helped. My hope is that in the near future we will be able to use all four of our communion trays and offering trays and have a rotation of servers every month. High hopes! Maybe next Year. Richard Girard Deaconess Report The deaconesses have continued to assist the deacons in serving communion each Sunday. Thank you to the few deaconesses that are still able and willing to prepare communion and also thanks to those willing and able to help serve the communion. Ethel Girard Elders Report 2017 was a changing year for the elders. Starting in January, all the elders were involved with the Mission Pathways program to complete the growing church mission for the Morro Bay community. The ECM was created and the elders contributed to the development of the mission. In the fall of 2017, the chair of the elders, Richard Woods, became unable to complete his term, and stepped into the role of Elder Emeritus, along with Ed Riley, and Jim Johnson. An interim chair of the elders, Joanne Kulczyk was selected. In November, the first annual Advent Devotional Booklet was created and included messages by the congregation and the elders, thus allowing our members to share their faith with each other. 2017 ended with the elders becoming more involved with the care of the church and its members and wanting to become more involved with the ministry in the coming year. Joanne Kulczyk
Worship Committee The worship service has been altered to include our Mission Program. Our goal is to help our members and the community in protecting our environment. The Call to Worship list is prepared semi-annually and given out to those members volunteering their time and talents to assist in the worship service. Flowers were provided, most Sundays, for the Church altar. For members with concerns about the worship service those concerns are brought to the Church Board for consideration. Kay Pinniger Historian Report Our web site, with calendar and photos is kept up monthly by Tom Mangione. the Rock newsletter with church news, prayer list, community events, and photos is posted on our web site every month. Printed copies of the Rock without photos are available to those without email access. Please urge family and friends to go on our web site to view the news and fun photos. Pat Mangione Christian Education Report The church school class for children is being taught by Kay Pinniger, assisted by Pat Mangione, Joanne Kulczyk and Bambi Castillo. We thank you so much for your dedication. The adult class is being taught by our Pastor Rich Kurrasch. Committee members are Sue Bigbee, Kay Pinniger and Marilyn Dever. Sue Bigbee Membership, Evangelism and Fellowship Report Following worship service, the first Sunday of each month, we have Birthday Sunday. Fellowship hour is held on all other Sundays following worship. The congregation enjoyed three other social activities, a lunch during a Congregational Meeting, a Spring Luncheon and the Christmas Dinner and Talent Show. Thank you to all who signed up and to all who cleaned up following the events. Please take a few turns and sign up for the upcoming year. Pat Mangione
Outreach Report The Outreach Committee continues to promote the Special Day offerings and we thank the congregation for their continued generous support. Our offerings for Hurricane relief and also the fires in Calif. Shows or generosity to others in need. We are still receiving our monthly offerings of food donations for the Salvation Army. This year s donations of toys at Christmas time for the Salvation Army were also very generous. I would like to thank Pat Mangione for carrying the donations of food and toys to the Salvation Army office. Ethel Girard, committee chair and members, Pat Mangione, Sue Bigbee. Property Report Needs changes and the addition of one new staff member determined that a room by room assessment was necessary. This was accomplished by shifting room usage, moving the adult church school class and restructuring office space to accommodate current needs. Several members worked on the project and Tom Mangione who has done an exceptional job as both painter and landscape wizard deserves much praise for all the work he has done. Several other changes are anticipated and are now under consideration and may occur in 2018. Rollie Bigbee Christian Women s Fellowship Report The annual bazaar, jewelry sales, and rummage sale continue as our source of funding for outreach and local projects. We work all year long to make our fund raisers successful. A big THANKS goes to Betty Rivers and Pat Mangione for their guidance and leadership. Outreach Projects: All People s Christian Center, Women s Abuse Shelter, Assistance League of SLO County, Eastmont Community Center, CASA -for Children, Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter, Hospice Partners and Food for Prado Day Center-serving a meal bi-monthly. Local Projects: Mother's Day Blanket Drive for Church World Service, Paper goods for local church, Donations for local church improvements, Hygiene products for Women's Shelter, and Christmas new toy drive for Salvation Army. The projects would not be successful without the cooperation of our church family...thanks so much. Officers for 2018: Sue Bigbee-President, Betty Rivers-Treasurer and Kay Pinniger-Service
Betty Rivers Sunshine Committee Cards have been sent to members throughout the year 2017 for birthdays, anniversaries, get well, prayers, and other concerns. My thanks to those who have collected and donated materials to me for the cards. I also greatly appreciate the CWF providing postage. Judy Hardt
Financial Secretary
Note- These Board members have agreed to continue on at this time. Church Officers 2018 First Christian Church of Morro Bay (Disciples of Christ) GENERAL OFFICERS - 2 year term 12/1/17 12/1/18 Moderator Vice Moderator Clerk Treasurer Financial Secretary Richard Elliott Betty Rivers Joanne Kulczyk Gayle Woods Jim Johnson FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS - 2 year term 12/1/17 12/1-18 Worship Outreach Christian Education Membership and Evangelism Stewardship and Finance Property Sunshine Kay Pinniger Ethel Girard Sue Bigbee Pat Mangione Betty Rivers Rollie Bigbee Judy Hardt ELDER - 3 year term Term expires 12/1/18 Term expires 12/2019 Term expires 12/20 Joanne Kluzcyk Rollin Bigbee Richard Elliott Betty Rivers Pat Mangione DEACON - 3 year term Richard Girard Ron Labrie DEACONNESS - 3 year term Ethel Girard Sue Bigbee Judy Hardt Gayle Woods Marily.n Dever Pat Mangione Kay Pinniger Elder Emeritus: Jim Johnson, Ed Riley and Richard Woods Deaconess Emeritus : Izabel Stuart